What is the term for a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses?

What is the term for a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses?

• A. Simple Sentence
• B. Compound Sentence
• C. Complex Sentence
• D. Compound/Complex Sentence

Answer: (D)

When a sentence carries both multiple main ideas and an extra clause that cannot stand on its own, you’re looking at a compound-complex sentence. It has two or more independent clauses—parts that could be sentences by themselves—plus one or more dependent clauses that rely on the rest of the sentence to complete meaning. This combination is what sets it apart from other types. For example, think of a sentence that says: Although the forecast looked rough, the team played on, and they finished the game strong. Here, “Although the forecast looked rough” is the dependent clause, and “the team played on” and “they finished the game strong” are two independent clauses. Because there’s more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, this is a compound-complex sentence. This term is the best fit because it directly describes both parts at once—the multiple standalone thoughts and the extra dependent idea—rather than labeling it as just compound (two independent ideas) or just complex (one independent idea plus a dependent clause).

When a sentence carries both multiple main ideas and an extra clause that cannot stand on its own, you’re looking at a compound-complex sentence. It has two or more independent clauses—parts that could be sentences by themselves—plus one or more dependent clauses that rely on the rest of the sentence to complete meaning. This combination is what sets it apart from other types.

For example, think of a sentence that says: Although the forecast looked rough, the team played on, and they finished the game strong. Here, “Although the forecast looked rough” is the dependent clause, and “the team played on” and “they finished the game strong” are two independent clauses. Because there’s more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause, this is a compound-complex sentence.

This term is the best fit because it directly describes both parts at once—the multiple standalone thoughts and the extra dependent idea—rather than labeling it as just compound (two independent ideas) or just complex (one independent idea plus a dependent clause).